The former English football player highlighted the Portugal star's loyalty to the Red Devils, acknowledging that he might have found it challenging to turn down the lucrative Saudi Arabian offers himself.

"The one thing it tells me is that there's a sense of loyalty," Ferdinand said. "And I think that word gets used a lot, but we don't often see it from the club's perspective and the players."

Ferdinand believes that Fernandes views his time at Manchester United as unfinished business, and that he wants to give back to the club and its fans after receiving so much support.

"I think he's in the game of wanting to give back after all he's received," Ferdinand said. "So, I've got nothing but respect for him."

Although Ferdinand admits that he would have understood if Fernandes left for Al-Hilal, he praises the midfielder's decision to stay and continue his work at Manchester United.

Al-Hilal were ready to offer £100 million for Fernandes, plus a weekly salary of about £700,000, to lure him to the Saudi Pro League.